Renal Pathology Rotation

Residents in their third or fourth year rotate one month on the renal pathology service, which handles in excess of 2500 renal biopsies annually, of which approximately 20% are from transplanted kidneys. Almost all specimens are examined by sophisticated light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopes, and the resident is exposed to these modalities. The rotation also includes experience with all non-neoplastic renal diseases including nephrectomies for cystic, inflammatory and infectious diseases.

Rotation Structure

The rotation has individual mini-lectures that cover all basic concepts and areas of native and transplant renal and kidney non-neoplastic pathology, and non-renal EM and immunofluorescence. This is followed by case self-study for which a large numberand variety of cases are available, and topic review with one of the three renal pathologists on the faculty. There is a twice weekly light microscopy case review for current renal pathology cases, which the resident attends. The resident is expected to spend one morning in the IF and EM laboratories to learn specimen processing in these areas and attend the monthly Renal Pathology conference (4th Tuesday of the month).

Specific Renal Pathology Goals and Objectives

Patient Care:

Demonstrate understanding of the clinical syndromes in nephrology.

Describe how to integrate light, IF and EM findings.

Identify patterns of renal injury associated with the clinical syndromes.

Demonstrate how to use clinical and morphologic findings to formulate diagnoses.